Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-07-14
TIE FERGUS HORSE BAND.
Nr. Fergus Corrsets Some Trroneous
Statements Concerning the Stealing.

Hr. Fergus t0rretts Some IrrCneous
Statements Concerning the Stealing.
EnroRs AsGus:-There has been SO many
versions published about the tealing Of the
Fergus band OF horses, and so many In.
dians have been killed on paper. that for
the benefit of our stockmen--who are all
interested in this horse stealing business
will give you ali the facts in relation To it
that ] have been able to gather. The
horses stolen belonged to myself and were
iSsed tn Thomas shea. who has an interest
in and has charge OF them. We have three
bands one on The foothills OF the judith
mountains, one near the Missouri river
md one near Mr.. Shea'- home ranch on
Armel' creek. The well known stallion
Don a, wac with Ills latter band. 1t was
"a first supposed that two bands were
stolen, but it turned on. that only Don AZ
band II some $50 head were driven OIL
When Mr.. Shea got up in the morning he
saw three rirn some miles from his house
running oil THE baud. IL Tad II manwith
him ami one Of our grands pns from stclc-
ma. lie sent the latter to our place for
help aud lie and The other man went after
the cuwboy-, who were camped between
his place and judith Landing Pant ofthc
cowboys tried to find the trail Part went
across the Missouri river - try to inter
cept the thieves. End tLird part went
down on the south side OF the river, but All
were unsuccessful Ny son. Andrew Fer
gus. who b. interested with me in cnttlennd
tukeS IN interest in ell my business went
to .he Coal Banks and wrote the letter to
I. g. Power ~ Bro that was Published in
the River Press. In the meantime nearly
al the horses got away and came back to
To their range. One Yves found shot. and
another has been heard from near the
mouth Of arrow creek These, toget her
with those that came back, constitute The
whole band stolen. except Il fcm foals that
we're rru to death.
Three Indians with ii few horses were
seen ut distance BY two different parties
near the Judith Landing road. A used up
IL horse was also found on the same road.
TIE suppostion IL that the thieves could
not get the horses across the Missouri
river, which vac very high. Indications
~
T~o Of our men met Mr.. Pocklington,
agent Of the hloods, ~ Fort Assinaboine !
Thry say he told theli "he was out" tire.
Indians on pass to visit relatives n
Montana end one of them vas the wora.
horse thieiin the Blood Nation, and all TIE
indications or the trad 90 to show that
they were Indians. Granville Stuart and
offices Throughout the northwest: and for
once the army deserves credit fer ts ener
gy, not for it, p9de If putting il into ei-
iect
The commander at Assinaboine started
out "a squad Of cavalry, but our men say
the roads were bad and they had 3 500
ruuud7 II oats. hcsiats ratione ard bed
ding fur al the mon, ON one team Of con
demned mules, with tao drivers on each
side ana "a. the mules would give out they
would leave rile 81 slck- by the Roadside
This shove the f3,lr - the Goveram ant
Ne'pilt 'al-c American lo:s-s that have 60
~ So a---iu r-sull---~ and rin.es To, g al
ter Indians mounted on frontier horses
TINT viii ont travel chem on grass alone
~ - !f ifi l'fi iif4'AffF iffflltfft on Ftfffi
ponies to 81 aad watch cavilcs,de Ike
TINS
Detective tau.rei aud pcputy sheriff
Sullivan started to Try and follow tine /
trail, out no; being shle 20 strike it they :
1lso came back. The damage 20 Va SUMS
~ y considerable expense in time aud
n. ne, too HORSES aud several foals, all on
account q tsree th"ving Canadian In F.
dams, neither ot whom as yet las been I
killed or hung that know Of and my offer
Of s1oo apiece for their ,calps stilI holds
good
sor,e horses we're lilied il and some
stolen from one 90 KoArs a byIlannarg',
eorr.lls on EoA Elder, in this county, which
i. supposed 10 Do die work oi Ire .au, IN +
dams.
Taking this method of thinking al vi
rer,lo,ed =. assistance remain, Nc..
JANIS FaRiUs.